On reflection, I guess I could have sued them for the value of the bike; it would have been a civil case, so it wouldn't have depended on proof, just on the balance of probabilities.
I doubt they would have contested it; it would have been an easy win. But they might have paid me a visit and set fire to my flat.
Or you might have prevented them from murdering someone. The probably of them coming back and burning your house down come from television but in reality this is not a murder case where they are threatening you not to appear. This isn't so personal that the 250 dollars will cause them spend time/money on a payback plan. Judging by their car they make a lot more than that nightly and you will never see a dime of that court winning.
I doubt they would have contested it; it would have been an easy win. But they might have paid me a visit and set fire to my flat.